Keep up the fight for reform

Published: Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 22, 2013 at 4:17 p.m.

Ever wonder why Congress pulls stunts like threatening to default on the national debt, which would harm everyone, but struggles to pass legislation that would benefit the majority of Americans? Many politicians of both parties seem to have lost the ability to compromise to get things done for the good of the country as a whole.

The reason: More and more politicians are from “safe” districts — districts that lean heavily toward one party or the other. In these districts, politicians worry more about facing a primary challenge in their own party than a viable general election opponent.

Sound familiar? Our 11th Congressional District here in the mountains is now a “safe” Republican district. Back in the 1980s, it was highly competitive and flipped back and forth between Republicans and Democrats. The district became more of a GOP stronghold in the 16 years that Republican Charles Taylor of Brevard represented it. But it remained in play enough that a conservative Democrat, Heath Shuler, was able to win three terms.

In 2010, Republicans made history in North Carolina when they won control of both houses of state government for the first time in more than a century. The following year, they redrew district lines to add heavily Democratic sections of Asheville to the reliably Republican 10th Congressional District. Democrats could hardly complain, having gerrymandered districts for generations to favor their party.

Shuler retired, and the seat went to U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, a hero of the conservative, no-holds-barred tea party. The 11th District is now one of the most strongly Republican districts in the South.

The problem is, politicians from such districts don’t have much incentive to listen to moderate voices. They are elected by primary voters, who tend to be much more conservative or liberal than the general electorate. Congress becomes more polarized, compromise becomes a dirty word, and grandstanding takes precedence over getting legislation passed.

North Carolina is among several states considering ways to change this situation. N.C. Rep. Chuck McGrady, R-Hendersonvile, was one of four primary sponsors of legislation to direct that congressional districts be drawn by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Office. It would have taken effect in 2021, after the next census in 2020.

“It would take redistricting out of the hands of politicians and put it into the hands of professional staff who would be forbidden from drawing those districts for political purposes,” Steve Greene, a political scientist in North Carolina, told NPR in a report last week.

“Right now, North Carolina has nine Republican seats and four Democratic seats in a variety of really crazy shapes. To be honest, that has got to be one of the most effective gerrymanders in what is really essentially a 50/50 state.”

California has gone a step further, enacting a reform called the top-two primary. Passed by a voter referendum, it calls for a single primary to be held in each congressional district. That primary is open to all voters and candidates — Republican, Democratic and unaffiliated — with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election.

“It’s not about who gets elected; it’s about how they behave after they get elected,” Steve Peace, a former Democratic state legislator who spearheaded the initiative, told NPR. “The truth is, most politicians are far more reasonable human beings than we appear to be in public, because we all act like idiots trying to appeal to that narrow partisan base that we’re dependent upon for re-election. You can see the evidence of that in this last shutdown vote.”

It is hard to imagine that North Carolina Republicans, chafing after decades of minority status under Democratic gerrymandering, would want to give up the power to redraw the lines. Yet that is exactly what principled leaders such as McGrady tried to do. The legislation previously passed the state House with strong support but was not taken up by the Senate. In the most recent session, however, it was not included with bills to be considered in both houses.

McGrady and other sponsors should not give up, but keep fighting to get this smart piece of legislation passed into law. And they should have the support of all North Carolinians who would like to see an end to seemingly endless gridlock and hyper-partisanship in Washington.

<p>Ever wonder why Congress pulls stunts like threatening to default on the national debt, which would harm everyone, but struggles to pass legislation that would benefit the majority of Americans? Many politicians of both parties seem to have lost the ability to compromise to get things done for the good of the country as a whole.</p><p>The reason: More and more politicians are from “safe” districts — districts that lean heavily toward one party or the other. In these districts, politicians worry more about facing a primary challenge in their own party than a viable general election opponent.</p><p>Sound familiar? Our 11th Congressional District here in the mountains is now a “safe” Republican district. Back in the 1980s, it was highly competitive and flipped back and forth between Republicans and Democrats. The district became more of a GOP stronghold in the 16 years that Republican Charles Taylor of Brevard represented it. But it remained in play enough that a conservative Democrat, Heath Shuler, was able to win three terms.</p><p>In 2010, Republicans made history in North Carolina when they won control of both houses of state government for the first time in more than a century. The following year, they redrew district lines to add heavily Democratic sections of Asheville to the reliably Republican 10th Congressional District. Democrats could hardly complain, having gerrymandered districts for generations to favor their party.</p><p>Shuler retired, and the seat went to U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, a hero of the conservative, no-holds-barred tea party. The 11th District is now one of the most strongly Republican districts in the South.</p><p>The problem is, politicians from such districts don't have much incentive to listen to moderate voices. They are elected by primary voters, who tend to be much more conservative or liberal than the general electorate. Congress becomes more polarized, compromise becomes a dirty word, and grandstanding takes precedence over getting legislation passed.</p><p>North Carolina is among several states considering ways to change this situation. N.C. Rep. Chuck McGrady, R-Hendersonvile, was one of four primary sponsors of legislation to direct that congressional districts be drawn by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Office. It would have taken effect in 2021, after the next census in 2020.</p><p>“It would take redistricting out of the hands of politicians and put it into the hands of professional staff who would be forbidden from drawing those districts for political purposes,” Steve Greene, a political scientist in North Carolina, told NPR in a report last week.</p><p>“Right now, North Carolina has nine Republican seats and four Democratic seats in a variety of really crazy shapes. To be honest, that has got to be one of the most effective gerrymanders in what is really essentially a 50/50 state.”</p><p>California has gone a step further, enacting a reform called the top-two primary. Passed by a voter referendum, it calls for a single primary to be held in each congressional district. That primary is open to all voters and candidates — Republican, Democratic and unaffiliated — with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election.</p><p>“It's not about who gets elected; it's about how they behave after they get elected,” Steve Peace, a former Democratic state legislator who spearheaded the initiative, told NPR. “The truth is, most politicians are far more reasonable human beings than we appear to be in public, because we all act like idiots trying to appeal to that narrow partisan base that we're dependent upon for re-election. You can see the evidence of that in this last shutdown vote.”</p><p>It is hard to imagine that North Carolina Republicans, chafing after decades of minority status under Democratic gerrymandering, would want to give up the power to redraw the lines. Yet that is exactly what principled leaders such as McGrady tried to do. The legislation previously passed the state House with strong support but was not taken up by the Senate. In the most recent session, however, it was not included with bills to be considered in both houses.</p><p>McGrady and other sponsors should not give up, but keep fighting to get this smart piece of legislation passed into law. And they should have the support of all North Carolinians who would like to see an end to seemingly endless gridlock and hyper-partisanship in Washington.</p>